Rim and tire



W. R. MILLER.

.mm Aun me. APPLICATION FILED )ULY 9| |918.

v Patented J une 24, 1919.

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W. R. MILLER.

RIM AND TIRE.

APPLICATION meu yJULY 9.19111.

4Patened June 24, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TOR/VEYS WILLIAM R. MILLER, `or ELIZABETH, `REW JERSEY.

RIM AND TIRE.

y Lacasse.

- Spcification f Letters Patent Patented June 24:, 1919.

Application led July 9. 1918. Serial No. 244,090.

To @ZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. MILLER, a

' citizen of the United States, and aresident `of Elizabeth, in the county of Union "and State of New J ersey,` have invented a new and Improved Rim and Tire, ofwhichthe following 'isa full, cle r, and -eXact` `description. y

This invention relates to vehicle tires and rims and hasfor an objectthe provision of an improved construction securing `the `effeet of an ordinary rim and theordinary pneumatic tire without thedisadvantage of the common {pneumatic itire now ion the market in respect to punctures, blow outs and the like. i f

Another object in view is to provide a tire structure formed in independent sections with a common casingor shoe soi as toproduce an even continuous action.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tire and rim structure wherein the tire is formed in sections and the rim is formed with openings through which the sections may be removed and replaced individually without disturbing the shoe or adjacent section. I i

Another object of the invention is to provide a tire andrim structure wherein the tire is provided with a plurality of independently inflatable sections and cushioning blocks or sections therebetween positioned to take the weight when any one or more of the inflatable sections have become deflated.

In the accompanying drawingszj f M Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through part of a tire `and rim disclosing an embodiment of the invention.` i

Fig; 2 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 1 on line 22. h

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of part ofthe inner face of a rim embodying certain features of the invention.`

Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 3 `butshowing the covering plate and associate parts.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through a rim disclosing an embodiment "of -theinn vention. v h i y Fig. 6 is: a transverse sectional View through Fig. 1 onlline 6 6. y

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals 1 indicates an ordinary shoe` of the clencher type adapted to lcoact with the rim 2, which rim is provided with the usual. ciencherfianges for recevin `the `hase at' a shoe as `shawn in 2. l 'i .te rim 2,

however, is specially" formed as shown in FigsQS and 4, namely with oliienings 3 and aperturest as wellas valve stem holes 5. In the drawing ten openings 3 areshowinbut litwill be evident that a greater or less number `may i be used as desired. Between these` `openings a solid section 6 is left in whichthe apertures 1 are provided. `The solid-sections 6 are intended to receive the respective cushioning blocks?, which cushwhichlengths are preferably such as `to causethe weight to betaken by these blocks and support the vehicle ina similar manner to theway it would be supported appro-Ximately if the tire was half deflated, whereby `the deflation of any particular section 8 would not materially detract from thel smooth" running of the tire.

assist the cushioning blocks 7 and also preventany of the tubes 9 crowding into the space 12 between the shoe 1 andthe blocks 7. The blocks 7 are made of slightly less diameter than theshpe as shownin Fig. 6, so` as to provide the space 12 .whereby the resilient `effect of the air in thevarious sections "8 is secured until one or more of the sections `have Ibeen deflated whereupon theresilient effect of the remaining sections 1s secured and the cushioning actioirof the blocks secured. The blocks 7 are each made from a blbck of rubber 113 having a reinforcing substantially U-shaped `metal member 14 e1nbedded therein with the `end 15 resting on the section (Stof the rim 2. In order to stiifen the bracing Ufmember 14 oneor more rivets 16 areprovided which connect the upperend and which areembeddcd `in rubben The ends 15 of the reinforcing member 14C are provided with threaded apertures for receiving the screws 17" and 18, which `not `only `lo`ck or clamp"theblocks 7 inplace, but

also clamp itherespective covering plates 19 and 20 in place. These covering plates are hinged `at 21 `and"`2`2f`to` a base plate 23 through which screws 18`pass. It will thus be seen that the various Coveringplates for ioningvblocks are naturally spaced? apart according to `the length of the openings 3,

the apertures or openings are arranged in pairs and positioned te swing fully open .the shoe 1. l

stem 10 and tube 9` are removed through the whenit is desired to remove any of the rubber tubes 9 through any of the openings 3. At the ends opposite the hinges 21 and 22 there is a hook member 24 for each of the plates 19 and 20, said hook member coacting with one of the screws 17 which screws are .loosened somewhat in order to -move the hook members 24 to a disengaged position, after which the covering plates 1) and 20 may'be hinged to a full open position. A

lreverse movement and then the tighteningof screw 17 will proper place.

In order that rthe tube 9 may have a properbed to-rest on the covering plates 19 are provided withk a centrally pressed structure v25 which projectsinto the openings 3 as shownin Fig. 2 so as to ill the same and make a proper surface for the tube. Incase any'tub'e'9 is punctured the particular gcoveringplatelor 20 therefor is moved to an open position, cap 26 of the valve y101s, removed and the valve pushed upwardly into After this has been done the put the parts againin their opening 3 after vwhich a newtube is provided yor the old one mended kand placed fback inposition. Where tires are comparal .tively large, as :for instance twelve or fourteen inches in diameter from the base to the periphery, the `provision of sections 8 is very desirablefas the puncture or blow out of one of kthesections willnot do the damage that is done by a largevtire ofthe same diameter blowing out wherein the volume of airis,v so much larger. The blowing out yof a large tire when anautomobile is running at some speed, especially a front tire is very dangerous as the driver loses control and vconsequently accidents of a serious nature often happen. The blowing out of a single section 8, whether the `section is four inches diameter or fourteen inches or llarger would not cause any material damage by, reason of vthe explosion, nor would it throw the car but as thesesections are comparatively small and inexpensive the cutting of one inner tube is not of much importance las the remaining tubes arestillin ,perfect condition and the shoeis in perfect condition.

What I claim is: l

l. A combined tire and ,rim comprising a shoe having an annular interior continuous cavity, a rim for receiving the base of the shoe', a plurality of spaced independently inflatable inner tubes airaiiged in said shoe, and'cushioning blocks connected to said rim arranged between the respective inner tubes, said cushioning blocks being made of a size vto extend to a point near the shoe whereby the inner tubes will support the shoe as long as inflated and the cushioning blocks will support the shoe when the inner tubes are deflated.

2. ,A tire of the character described comprising a shoe having an annular interior continuous cavity, a plurality of indepeiidently linflated segmental inner tubes arranged in said shoe, said inner tubes being fspacedapart and formed at their ends with comparatively thick walls, and a rubber cushioning member arranged between the thickened walls of adjacent inner tubes.

3. A tire structuie comprising a shoe having an annular interior continuous cavity, a rim member having cleiiclier flanges for receiving the base of said shoe, said rim member having a plurality of spaced openings,

a ,pneumatic inner tube section for each .opening substantially the same length as said opening and insertible therethrough, an

.inlating member for each of said tube scc- 9 tions, and means connected rigidly to said rini'arranged at each end of the respective sections for supportingthe casing when the tube sections are deflated.

4. A tire structure comprising a casing having an annular interior continuous cavity, a rim member formed with means for receiving the base of said casing, a plurality ofseginental tube sections arranged in the casing, said tube sections being spaced apart, means for independently inflating yeach of said sections, and a resilient cushioning member arranged'be'tween the various tube sections. v

i5. AFtire structure comprising a shoe liaving` a'n annular interior continuous cavity, a rim member formed with means for receiving the base of said shoe, a plurality of independently inflatable tube sections arrangedfin said shoe, said tube sections being Uspaced'apart, a resilient cushion member arranged iii the space between each of said sections and contacting with adjacent sections, and lmeans for rigidly clamping said resilient means to said rim member.

6. A tire structure comprising a slice having an annular interior continuous cavity, a rim member formed with means for receiving the base of said shoe, a plurality of resilient blocks rigidly secured -to said rim structure 'within the shoe, said blocks conforming substantially to the shape of the interior ofthe shoe but of slightly less diam` leter,.a reinforcing member positioned in cach of said blocks for holding same in a-radial position and for taking care of eXcess strains radially and in a direction at right angles to a radial line, and an independent inilatable pneumatic member arranged in said shoe between eaclrp-air of blocks.

7 A tire structure Comprising a shoe having an annular interior continuous cavlty, a`

rim member formed With means :for receiv- "a reinforced cushioning member between each of said inflatablemembers Said cushioning members contacting Wlth the rim, but normally out of engagement Wlth said shoe.

WILLIAM R. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

i Washington, D. G. 

